Physocarpus plant named ‘Jefroy’

ABSTRACT

A new cultivar of Physocarpus plant named ‘Jefroy’ that is characterized by its foliage that is dark purple in color with the color retained throughout the summer, its compact, dwarf plant habit with tidy branching, its leaves that are similar in size to Physocarpus cultivars that lack a dwarf plant habit, and its good resistance to powdery mildew.

Genus/species: Physocarpus opulifolius.

Varietal denomination: ‘Jefroy’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Physocarpus opulifolius and will be referred to hereafter by its cultivar name, ‘Jefroy’. ‘Jefroy’ represents a new cultivar of Physocarpus, a deciduous shrub grown for landscape use.

The new Physocarpus arose from a breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Portage la Prairie, Manitoba, Canada. The objective of the breeding program was to develop new Physocarpus cultivars with unique foliage color combined with compact plant habits and disease resistance.

The new Physocarpus originated from open pollination in summer of 2007 of Physocarpus cultivars ‘Monlo’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 11,211), ‘Seward’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 14,821), and ‘Center Glow’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 16,894) and the seeds were pooled and sown. The new cultivar ‘Jefroy’ was selected as a unique single plant from the resulting seedlings in summer of 2011.

Asexual propagation of the new cultivar was first accomplished by stem cuttings by the Inventor in June of 2012 in Portage la Prairie, Manitoba, Canada. Asexual propagation by stem cuttings has determined that the characteristics of the new cultivar are stable and are reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and represent the characteristics of the new Physocarpus. These attributes in combination distinguish ‘Jefroy’ as a unique and distinct cultivar of Physocarpus.

-   1. ‘Jefroy’ exhibits foliage that is dark purple in color with the     color retained throughout the summer. -   2. ‘Jefroy’ exhibits a compact, dwarf plant habit with tidy     branching. -   3. ‘Jefroy’ exhibits leaves that are similar in size to Physocarpus     cultivars that lack a dwarf plant habit. -   4. ‘Jefroy’ exhibits good resistance to powdery mildew.

The possible female parent plants of ‘Jefroy’ all differ from ‘Jefroy’ in having less compact plant habits, taller plant heights, and in having lighter and different foliage coloration. ‘Jefroy’ can be most closely compared to Physocarpus opulifolius cultivars ‘SMPOTW’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 26,749), ‘SMNPOTWG’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 28,857), and ‘N5’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 30,820). ‘SMPOTW’ and ‘SMNPOTWG’ are similar to ‘Jefroy’ in having a dwarf plant habit and flowers that are pink-white in color. ‘SMPOTW’ differs from ‘Jefroy’ in having foliage that is bronze-maroon in color and leaves that are smaller in size. ‘SMNPOTWG’ differs from ‘Jefroy’ in having foliage that is golden in color and leaves that are smaller in size. ‘N5’ is similar to ‘Jefroy’ in having dark foliage and a compact plant habit. ‘N5’ differs from ‘Jefroy’ in having foliage that is wider and more black in color that develops a red coloration in fall and in having a slightly more mounded plant habit.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance and distinct characteristics of the new Physocarpus.

The photographs in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 were taken of a 2-year-old plant as grown outdoors in two-gallon containers in Portage la Prairie, Manitoba, Canada.

The photograph in FIG. 1 was provides a side view of ‘Jefroy’ in bloom.

The photograph in FIG. 2 provides a close-up view of the flowers of ‘Jefroy’.

The photograph in FIG. 3 was taken of a 4-year-old plant as grown outdoors in a trial bed in Portage la Prairie, Manitoba, Canada.

The colors in the photographs are as close as possible with the digital photography and printing techniques utilized and the color codes in the detailed botanical description accurately describe the colors of the new Physocarpus.

BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

The following is a detailed description of four-year-old plants of the new cultivar as grown in a trial bed in Portage la Prairie, Manitoba, Canada. The phenotype of the new cultivar may vary with variations in environmental, climatic, and cultural conditions, as it has not been tested under all possible environmental conditions. The color determination is in accordance with The 2015 Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England, except where general color terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   General description:     -   -   Blooming period.—About ten days in late June in southern             Manitoba.         -   Plant habit.—Deciduous shrub.         -   Plant habit.—Compact and dwarf.         -   Height and spread.—An average of 1.25 m in height and spread             as a mature plant in the landscape.         -   Cold hardiness.—At least in U.S.D.A. Zone 2.         -   Diseases.—Good disease resistance has been observed to             powdery mildew caused by Podosphaera aphanis var.             physocarpi.         -   Growth rate.—Moderate.         -   Root development.—Roots initiate in about 2 to 3 weeks and             will fully root as a young plant in 2 to 3 months. -   Branch description:     -   -   Branch color.—Young stems; between N186A and N186B, mature             bark; a range of 200A, 200C with inner bark (stripes 3 mm in             size) a color between N170B and 200D.         -   Branch shape.—Rounded to quadrangular.         -   Branch size.—Main branches; up to 60 cm in length, 1.5 cm in             diameter, lateral branches; up to 35 cm in length, 8 mm in             diameter, tertiary branches; average of 8 cm in length and 4             mm in diameter.         -   Branch surface.—New growth; glossy and very sparsely             pubescent, mature bark; smooth, slightly ridged and matte,             old twigs; splitting along ridges.         -   Branching.—Medium branched, main branches; an average of 11,             strong, lateral branches; an average of 15, strong, tertiary             branches; an average of 6 per lateral branch, moderately             strong. -   Foliage description:     -   -   Leaf shape.—Cordate to ovate.         -   Leaf division.—Simple.         -   Leaf base.—Rounded.         -   Leaf apex.—Acute to obtuse.         -   Leaf venation.—Palmate, upper surface; 161A, lower surface;             161B and sometimes flushed with 184A.         -   Leaf margin.—3-lobed with lobes crenate.         -   Leaf attachment.—Petiolate.         -   Leaf arrangement.—Alternate.         -   Leaf surface.—Upper surface is matte, lower surface is             matte, both surfaces are crinkly.         -   Leaf size.—An average of 6 cm in length and 3.5 cm in width.         -   Leaf number.—Average of 32 per lateral branch 45 cm in             length.         -   Internode length.—An average of 2 cm.         -   Leaf color.—Young leaves upper surface; very base 178A,             blending up and turning 183A, tips are N187A, young leaves             lower surface; a blend of 179A and 179D, mature and fall             leaves upper surface; 186B, mature and fall leaves lower             surface; a blend of 186C and 187A.         -   Petioles.—1.5 to 2 cm in length, 2 mm in diameter, matches             stem color, medium strength, glossy and very sparsely             pubescent surface.         -   Stipules.—2 at the base of each leaf, 7 mm in length, 2 mm             in width, matches leaf color. -   Flower description:     -   -   Inflorescence size.—Average of 5 cm in diameter and 4 cm in             height.         -   Inflorescence type.—Small rotate flowers arranged in             spherical corymb, similar to parents and typical of the             species Physocarpus opulifolius.         -   Inflorescence lastingness.—Corymb lasts about 2 weeks, not             persistent, individual flowers about 3 days.         -   Flower quantity.—About 44 flowers per corymb.         -   Flower size.—About 5 mm in depth, 1 cm in diameter.         -   Flower form.—Rotate.         -   Flower fragrance.—Very lightly sweet.         -   Flower bud description.—Elliptic to round in shape, average             of 4 mm in length and 4 mm in diameter, a blend of 184A and             183D in color.         -   Peduncles.—Average of 1 cm in length and 3 mm in diameter,             178B with a flush of 178D, glabrous surface.         -   Pedicels.—Average of 7 mm in length and 1 mm in diameter,             42A, glabrous surface.         -   Petal description.—5, broadly obtuse in shape, margin is             entire, lower and upper surface is glabrous, apex is obtuse,             base is obtuse.         -   Petal size.—About 4 mm in length, 4 mm in width.         -   Petal color.—When opening and fully open upper and lower             surface; a blend of N155B and 50D.         -   Calyx size.—Average of 3 mm in diameter, glabrous surface,             inner surface color is 55B, outer surface color is mostly             53A with a light flush of 53B.         -   Sepal description.—5, subulate in shape, margin is entire,             apex is acute, base cuneate-truncate, surface is glabrous,             an average of 3 mm in length and 2 mm in width, a blend of             1A and 53A and 53B in color. -   Reproductive organs:     -   -   Gynoecium.—Pistil; 4, average of 4 mm in length, stigma; 0.5             mm in diameter, round and flattened in shape and 18A in             color, style; 3.5 mm in length and 18A in color, ovary; 4,             oblong in shape, 1 mm in length, 0.5 mm in diameter,             superior, 18A in color.         -   Androecium.—Stamens; an average of 29, 5 mm in length,             anthers; oblong to rounded in shape, 0.5 mm in diameter,             187A in color, filaments; 4.5 mm in length, 18A in color,             pollen observed.         -   Fruit and seed.—Fruit a firm-walled inflated follicle,             splitting open at both seams, ovoid in shape, seeds; 2 to 4             seeds are hard, shiny, ovoid in shape, N45C in color at             petal drop, 201A in color at maturity. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Physocarpus plant named ‘Jefroy’ substantially as herein illustrated and described. 